Lou Austin acquires the Capon Spring and surrounding land

Building renovation begins — the Pavilion, Fairfax, West Virginia; electricity added

No neckties policy begins!

The Golf Course is built, tennis courts added, tournaments (including Scotch Foursomes)

Begin construction of a building (Sunset Lodge — for outdoor meals) to replace the barn on the Golf Course

Renovations to the Main House continue, the Card Room is added; and the brick, coal-fired oven is built

Flag ceremonies, campfire sing-a-longs and curfew become traditions

“Music from the trees” begins; movies (with sound) once a week

Capon traditions of Dinners on the Hill, tea at the Pool and tomato juice before dinner begin

Honeymoon Cottage, Playhouse and Playground are built

Addition of Iron Spring Farm, Hilltop Farm and Meadowview Farm

Capon Christmas celebrations— ½ way: June 25th and ¾ of the way: September 25th

The “Big Swing” is hung on the old oak tree on the lawn

Golf Course improvements continue; the “Little Course” is added (1954)

The Fish Pond is enlarged and stocked with bass and bluegill, rowboats are available; a fish pond is added at Hilltop Farm

Another addition is built on the Dining Room; a guest Laundry Room is added

The Meeting House is constructed (1957-8)

Lou Austin establishes The Partnership Foundation which publishes You Are Greater Than You Know (1955) & The Little Me and the Great Me (1957)

A new sundeck at the Pool required trees being cut down, which allowed more sun to shine on the pool and warm the water!

The Teen-Age Corner is started in the Upper Ping Pong House

The airstrip opens at Hilltop Farm

Lou Austin begins to give away Capon Water free of charge

Cottages 1, 2, and 3 are built

Bingo and stereo concerts begin in Meeting House

Lighting is added to the shuffleboard courts for night play; the 3rd wooden court installed

The lower all-weather tennis court is installed

Renovation of the Fairfax

Lou Austin dies (1976)

New building is built to replace the old Sunset Lodge

Third generation members begin to join the family business

The walking trails are improved; the Yellow Trail added

Second generation begins to retire; Virginia Austin dies (1982); third generation assumes management of business

The Log Cabin is restored (1985); the Apple Butter Kitchen is rebuilt and a second floor added (1986)

Steak dinner is moved from Wednesday night to Thursday night; Lunch on the Hill begins

The Memorial Fountain on the lawn is built; the Main House Front Porch is resurfaced in stone, replacing the old red tile surface (1985)

Golf pro, Ray Loy, begins to give lessons

The “Walking History Trail” is created; the Blue Trail blazed

The first Capon Cookbook is published

An LLA Anthology is published, edited by Lou Austin’s daughter Claire Kay Bellingham

Complete renovation to the Virginia Cottage (1990), interior renovation to the Poe (1990), and the Golf Lockerhouse (1994)

The Dining Room is again expanded, as well as the Back Kitchen and cellar storage area (1992)

The Bake Shop, Cooking Kitchen and office and phone booth areas renovated (1994)

The Front Desk changed from left to right as you enter ! (1994)

Fire sprinkler system is installed in the Main House (1991); swimming pool facilities are upgraded– the changing rooms (1996) and the concrete deck around the pool (1997)

Introduction of Spring and Fall programs; senior and off-season rates

Fourth generation Austin family members begin to contribute

The West Virginia Cottage (2000) and the Hampshire Cottage are renovated (2002)

Main House 2nd and 3rd floor Men’s and Ladies’ bathrooms are renovated (2001)

Porter Austin and Jack Bellingham die

A replica of the original 1880’s Music Pavilion is recreated on the upper lawn (2001)

All-weather tennis courts are completely re-surfaced (2006)

The Hygeia Bath House and Spa is constructed (2005-06)

Upper end of the Pavilion is renovated (2007)

Meeting House is renovated to create a larger meeting room with small kitchen and handicapped accessible bathrooms. (2008)

Badminton courts are rebuilt with all-weather surface. (2008)